How to transfer your Xiaomi account to a new phone: the full guide

Changing a smartphone, especially within the Xiaomi and Redmi ecosystem, often causes users to worry about the safety of personal data. Switching to a new device should not turn into a marathon for manually rewriting numbers or searching for lost photos, if you know the correct algorithm of actions in advance. Modern tools from the Chinese manufacturer allow you to clone the contents of an old device in almost automatic mode.

In this article, we will discuss in detail how to correctly transfer the Mi Account and all the data associated with it to a new gadget. You will learn about the intricacies of the Mi Cloud cloud storage, the use of a specialized Mi Mover application and the peculiarities of synchronizing system settings. Proper preparation will eliminate the risk of losing important information.

The migration process takes different times depending on the size of the files, but the procedure itself remains intuitive even for inexperienced users. The main thing is to take your time and consistently follow the steps described below. This ensures that your new Redmi or Poco will become an exact digital copy of its predecessor.

Preparing an Old Device for Data Migration

Before you start the direct transfer, you need to make sure that the original device is in good condition and ready to transfer information. The critical step is to check the battery charge, as the process of synchronization or direct transmission over Wi-Fi Direct can require significant energy resources. If the phone runs out in the middle of the operation, files can be damaged.

You should also make sure that both devices have the current version of the MIUI or HyperOS operating system installed. Differences in firmware versions sometimes lead to errors when restoring backups of settings. Go to the Settings menu → About the phone and check for updates.

⚠️ Warning: Make sure that the old phone is logged in to the Mi Account you plan to use as your primary account, logging out before you create a backup will result in data not being stored in the cloud.

Don’t forget to check the available space in cloud storage if you plan to use the cloud method. Free 5GB can run out quickly if you store a lot of high-resolution photos, in which case it makes sense to clear the gallery of excess debris or temporarily purchase additional volume.

Synchronization through Mi Cloud: the basic method

The most reliable way to save contacts, messages, notes and calendar is through Mi Cloud, which is good because the data is linked to your ID, not to a specific hardware. → Mi Account. → Mi Cloud.

Here you will see a list of data categories available for synchronization. It is recommended to activate the switches opposite to Contacts, Messages, Notes and Calendar. For photos and videos, a separate Gallery service is used, which you also need to enable. After activation, click Sync to forcing data to the server.

• 📱 Contacts and calls: Instantly restore to the new device immediately after entering the login and password.
• 📷 Gallery: Photos uploaded as they connect to Wi-Fi, taking up space in the cloud.
• 📝 Notes and Recorder: Text files and audio recordings are saved in the original format.
• 🔒 Security: Wi-Fi passwords and some system settings can also be saved.

It is important to understand that this method does not tolerate installed applications and their data (cache, progress in games) unless the developer uses their own cloud services.

Using the Mi Mover app for cloning

For those who want to migrate not only contacts, but also applications, their data, music and files, Xiaomi has developed a utility Mi Mover. It creates a direct wireless connection between two phones, bypassing the Internet, which greatly speeds up the process. You can find the application in the Tools folder or search in the settings.

Run the program on both devices. On the old phone, select the role of "Sender" (Old phone), and on the new one, "Receiver" (New phone). QR-code that appears on the screen of the receiving device. After the connection, you will see a list of categories for transmission.

You can select specific types of data or click "Select all." Special attention should be paid to the item "Applications", because it allows you to transfer even the placement of icons on the desktop. The transfer process can take from 10 minutes to several hours depending on the amount of data.

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The Mi Mover app transmits data directly over Wi-Fi Direct, so the copy speed does not depend on the speed of your home Internet, and the traffic itself is not consumed.

During transmission, the screens of the devices may go out, but the process will continue. Try not to unlock the phones or open other applications, so as not to interrupt the connection. Once completed, the new device will automatically install and configure the received packets.

Transfer of applications and their data

The issue of app migration deserves special attention, although Mi Mover is a great installer. APK-files, internal program data (logins, cache, saves in games) are not always correctly transferred due to Android security restrictions.

For instant messengers like WhatsApp or Telegram, it’s better to use built-in backup features. On WhatsApp, back up to Google Drive through chat settings. On Telegram, just log in and all the correspondence will be downloaded from the servers.

Banking applications and security systems will require re-authorization and re-association of the device, a normal security practice that cannot be circumvented when changing phones, and make sure you have access to your phone number in advance to receive the phone. SMS-confirmation code.

Recovering data on a new device

When you first turn on a new Redmi or Poco, the system will suggest you set up the device. At the welcome stage, you will be asked to enter your Mi Account details. Enter the same login and password that was used on the old phone.

Once you have successfully logged in, the system will suggest you restore data from the backup. If you used Mi Cloud, select the last available backup date. If you used Mi Mover, the data will already be in place, and you can skip this step or choose to restore only system settings.

⚠️ Note: When you restore from the cloud, old wallpaper, calls and widget locations can be downloaded to your device. If you want to start with a clean slate, don’t restore system settings, leaving only contacts and photos.

The recovery process in the background can continue for some time after you get to the desktop. The download indicator in the notification curtain will show the download status of applications and media files. Do not turn off the phone until this process is complete.

Solving synchronization problems and errors

Sometimes the transfer process can be difficult, and a common problem is to desynchronize contacts when numbers appear partially, in which case manual synchronization through the account menu or re-signing in helps.

Another common mistake is, "Not enough space." This is both the cloud and the internal memory of the new phone. Always check the space before you start the operation. If the new phone has less storage, you have to choose what to carry.

• 🔄 Cyclical Reboot: If the phone goes into a reboot cycle after recovery, try booting into Safe Mode and uninstalling newly installed apps.
• 🔑 Password Error: Make sure that CapsLock is not enabled on the keyboard and the correct input language is selected when entering the password from Mi Account.
• 📶 Communications Disconnect: When using Mi Mover, keep your phones close to and away from powerful sources of interference, such as routers or microwave ovens.

If neither method works, you can manually transfer important files over your computer or use third-party cloud services like Google Photos for a gallery, but Xiaomi’s regular tools are flawless 95% of the time.

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Save screenshots of important settings (such as APN hotspot configurations for mobile internet) before resetting or selling an old phone, saving time manually setting up a new device.